Ahead of the NFL free agency period, the Kansas City Chiefs are signing former Texans safety Justin Reid to a three-year, $31.5 million contract that includes $20 million guaranteed, according to a league source not authorized to speak publicly.
Justin Reid and Texans were too far apart in money to make a deal
With Reid’s four-year, $2.443 million rookie contract expiring, Nick Caserio, the Texans general manager, talked with Reid’s agent Joel Segal. Ultimately, Reid was far too expensive for the Texans’ budget.
“I’ve talked to his representatives, we’ve had some dialogue,” Caserio said at the NFL Scouting Combine. “I’m certainly open to bringing Justin back. Justin is a good player. He’s well thought of around the league. I know he has a lot of respect for Lovie [Smith]. He had an opportunity to play in his system. If he has an opportunity to come back here, it’s another year in the same system.
“Free agency is free agency, so the market dictates where players fit and how they fall. We’ll evaluate everything. Justin is a good player, and he’s done a lot of good things for the team and in the community, so we’ll see how it goes in the next couple of weeks.”
Reid’s NFL career heading into the 2022 season
The younger brother of former Pro Bowl safety Eric Reid, Reid was a third-round draft pick from Stanford in 2018. Reid was a finalist for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year and a former Ed Block Courage Award winner known for his community involvement and leadership qualities.
A rangy free safety at 6-foot-1, 203 pounds, Reid ended the season on the COVID-19 reserve list after testing positive. He played in 13 games, recording 2 interceptions and 1 forced fumble. Texans coach David Culley disciplined Reid after a disagreement in a team meeting that included the coach and wide receiver Chris Conley, according to sources. Reid returned to play the following week, and that wasn’t expected to have any effect on his value as a free agent.
In the final year of his rookie contract, Reid made a sound recovery after undergoing thumb surgery to repair a torn UCL that ended his 2020 season.
In four NFL seasons, Reid has recorded 7 interceptions, 2 forced fumbles, 3 fumble recoveries, and 2 sacks.
Preparing for this moment as a free agent
During training camp, Reid discussed how he handles his approach to business on and off the field.
“Honestly, no,” Reid said. “For me, it’s always been very clear. Like I’m focused on this right now. I’m going to compartmentalize everything else, and I kind of tackle things as they come. When it comes to football and want to put my best ball on the field, that’s always been kind of No. 1 in my head.
“Like everyone around me, I have a great support team around me, and they understand how I operate and how important this is to me. They know when I’m locked into this mode, I’m locked in, and once I step off the field, then I have time to go do everything else.”
For Reid, it’s something instilled in him by his family’s military background, including his uncle serving and his mom in the reserves.
“My parents were very, very strict on the discipline aspect as far as handling my responsibilities ever since I was growing up as a kid,” Reid said. “It’s always handle your business first, have fun and do whatever afterwards, but that’s only after you get your business done first. There’s kind of part of my foundation of who I am as a person.”